S-2-HYDROXYACYLGLUTHIONE-DERIVATIVES - ENZYMATIC PREPARATION, PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION

S-2-Hydroxyacylglutathione derivatives have been prepared by enzymatic synthesis from alpha-oxo aldehydes and reduced glutathione in the presence of glyoxalase I. S-D-Lactoylglutathione, S-D-mandelylglutathione, S-glycolylglutathione and S-L-glyceroylglutathione were prepared from methylglyoxal, phenylglyoxal, glyoxal and hydroxypyruvaldehyde, respectively. They were purified by ion exchange chromatography on Dowex 1 on a gram scale. Analytical data and re-evaluated extinction coefficients for these compounds are presented. The method described provides a reliable, large-scale procedure for the preparation and purification of S-acylglutathiones of increasing biological and pharmacological interest.